Istanbul Gelişim University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Interior Architecture continues to shed light on the sector with its academic studies focused on digital transformation and technology. Asst. Prof. Minel Kurtuluş, a faculty member of the department, shared her new article with the scientific community, which examines the academic dimension of virtual reality technology that has revolutionized architecture and interior architecture disciplines.
25 Years of Academic Accumulation Analyzed
The article titled "Reflections of Virtual Reality in the Discipline of Architecture: Methodological and Thematic Analysis of Master's and Doctoral Theses in Turkey," authored by Asst. Prof. Minel Kurtuluş, was published in the 2025 issue of the Journal of Smart Systems (JOSS). The study subjects a total of 36 postgraduate theses published in the YÖK National Thesis Center database between 1999 and 2024 to a comprehensive content analysis.
The Transformative Power of Virtual Reality in Architecture
The article reveals, with scientific data, the contributions of virtual reality (VR) technology, which offers a three-dimensional digital spatial experience, to interaction, representation, and presentation processes. The key findings from the analysis are as follows:
• Thesis Distribution: While a large portion of the examined studies consisted of application-oriented master's research, doctoral-level studies were found to focus more on theoretical frameworks and model development.
• Thematic Focus: The study emphasizes the use of VR technology in a wide range of areas, from decision-making stages in architectural design to spatial performance evaluations.
• Future Vision: The study highlights thematic and methodological shortcomings in the use of VR in the discipline of architecture, offering a roadmap for future research.
This academic work clearly demonstrates the potential of technology in architectural education and practice, and is of great importance in documenting the development of the literature in Turkey.
